based on: lorena smths familliar au which actually im not a fan of lmao but also kitten and shapeshifters lmao. it's posted on marcoacesabo
warnings/tags: telepathatic connection, pet names
ship: maracebo/mainly marace
"Kitten, what do you think?"
"Thanks, Kitten."
"Kitten, you look sick."
"Kitten, can you come help me?"
kitten, kitten, kitten, kitten, in a tone of voice that made him feel like squirming, made his mouth dry and his toes curl, made him shift restlessly but nod and acquiesce to whatever they asked.
Kitten, accompanied by their hands through his hair, with fingers against his spine, almost apologetic at first until he figured out how to bear their marks with pride.
Kitten, and he growls and glares but can't help the tingle beneath his skin, especially when they touch him, when they smile at him, so thankful that he's there.
"What're you thinking about, Kitten?" Marco hums curiously, his fingertips against Ace's bare, freckled shoulder, and Ace jumps, shoving away from him.
"Stop calling me that," he snaps, but by this point it's rote protest and Marco only grins cheekily at him. "And 'm not. Thinking about anything."
"Mm?" Marco says, cocking his eyebrow. "So weird tingles coming through our bond is Sabo's fault then, hm?"
Ace flushes, unable to help how he jolts up in his chair, and he shoots Marco a glare. "Don't spy on me."
"It's not like I'm trying too," Marco says, almost crossly, and Ace turns and folds his arms across his chest. "Aw, kitten, don't pout."
Jolts like sparks of electricity fly up his spine, and Ace grits his teeth, as Marco makes another curious noise. "Kitten?" he asks again, mischievous and probing, and Ace bites his cheek so hard he can feel the skin split.
"Stop that," he says, prickles flaring on his skin like static, and Marco's fingertips graze the back of his neck before Ace swats them away, turning to glare and letting his eyes flicker into threatening silver slits.
"Well," Marco says, carefully raising his hands in surrender to Ace's sharp teeth, "if you want to talk about it, you know where we areā¦" His lips twist, just barely, teasingly, and he adds, "Kitten."
Marco vanishes, teleporting out before Ace can snap at him, and Ace huffs, settling back crossly into his chair and trying to ignore the purr of kitten going through his head.
God, at least he hadn't turned into a dog. He had no idea what he'd do if they told him to come.
